While serving her sentence, Brittany Stockley informed prison staff that she was expecting a baby to receive additional food and sweets, which she hoped would alleviate the withdrawal symptoms stemming from her drug dependency.
At the time, she didn’t actually believe she was pregnant.
However, upon being transferred to a hospital for prenatal services, an ultrasound confirmed that she was carrying twins.
“Sitting in jail, it dawns on you that something has to change … We can either transform our lives or remain stuck. I’ve glimpsed a little light at the end of the tunnel,” Stockley shared.
Her twins were born three months after her release from incarceration. During the first three months, her sister looked after the babies until Stockley was prepared to bring them home and care for them herself.
With encouragement from her family and advocate Jeannie Piercey, Stockley overcame her substance abuse and eventually regained her parental rights.
Currently, Stockley serves on the advisory board of the non-profit organization Roots of Resilience, where she is working to create the kind of support system she once needed.
Shelly’s Haven, operated by Roots of Resilience, is designed to accommodate up to six mothers and their children, allowing them to reside together while receiving 24/7 support, including mental health and addiction services, parenting assistance, and guidance through various systems.
The facility is slated to open in Conception Bay South, N.L. during the summer of 2026.
“It will be a novel addition to our province—a sober recovery home tailored for women and children, with a strong emphasis on a family-oriented approach,” noted Piercey, co-founder of Roots of Resilience.
Above, Brittany Stockley is depicted during her struggle with addiction, and then in recovery, smiling. She now serves on the advisory board for Roots of Resilience and is instrumental in launching a new recovery house for mothers and their children. (Brittany Stockley)
For Stockley, this initiative is deeply personal.
“I have friends still out there. I miss them dearly. I’ve lost friends. I know others who have lost their families. It’s a widespread issue,” she said.
When her friend Courtney Pearce found out she was pregnant with her second child, she was still using substances.
“I attempted to stop using immediately after the pregnancy test came back positive,” Pearce recounted.
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Stockley was instrumental in connecting Pearce with Roots of Resilience, which she credits for changing the course of her life.
“I had very few people left who believed in me. Having a friend who said, ‘You can do this,’ made a huge difference,” Pearce explained.
“It provided me with that extra motivation to rediscover myself. It made me realize that I wasn’t beyond help.”
Brittany Stockley and Courtney Pearce are sharing their experiences with addiction and recovery to assist other mothers in finding the support they require. (Caroline Hillier/CBC)
On the day Pearce gave birth, she was informed that her baby would need to go to a foster home located six hours away. Thanks to Piercey’s advocacy, the baby was able to remain closer.
“I had Jeannie advocating for me, arranging for my breast milk to be shipped and ensuring I had immediate access to six days of visits,” Pearce recalled.
“Such things wouldn’t be possible without advocacy.”
We discuss the rising number of babies born exposed to substances in Newfoundland and Labrador with two mothers who faced addiction during pregnancy, addressing stigma, systemic challenges, and the solutions they are developing to support other families. (Krissy Holmes with Jeannie Piercey, co-founder and director of programs with Roots of Resilience, and mothers Courtney Pearce and Brittany Stockley)
According to Dr. Anne Drover, a pediatrician and associate professor at the faculty of medicine at Memorial University, 50-60 babies are born exposed to substances each year in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Jeannie Piercey, co-founder of Roots of Resilience, states that Shelly’s Haven recovery home is expected to launch this summer. (Submitted by Jeannie Piercey)
Her studies indicate that stigma poses one of the most significant barriers to seeking assistance.
“It is extremely challenging to approach a healthcare provider when you fear being judged,” Dr. Drover remarked.
Piercey emphasized that Shelly’s Haven aims to tackle some of these obstacles by providing trauma-informed care in a setting where mothers can stay with their infants while learning to eventually live independently and care for their children.
Breaking cycles
Pearce recently regained custody of her son, attributing her success to the support from Roots of Resilience, which she believes has transformed her into the mother she is now.
“Being where I am today, knowing that my son is home, happy, and safe, and I can provide that for him, if you had asked me a year ago, I would have said there was no way I could ensure a safe and nurturing environment for a child,” Pearce stated.
“To go from having just one person believe in me to having faith in myself is a monumental achievement.”
After receiving assistance to overcome her substance use, Courtney Pearce regained custody of her infant son. (Submitted by Courtney Pearce)
Shelly’s Haven aspires to provide more mothers with similar opportunities.
Pearce and Stockley are speaking out about their experiences to help diminish stigma and provide support for other mothers in need.
“I have the privilege of being a mother to my son and my daughter, which is why it’s so important for me to engage in initiatives like this,” Pearce expressed.
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